Difference between an Engine and a Wagon?

[2550FF]

Hello
I have always wondered what the difference between an Engine and a Wagon is? I know a lot of Fire Departments up North, have these and down here in Tennesse we just have Engines. Can somebody give me some reasons for the difference between these?

Thanks

[nmfire]

The spelling? That's it. It is just slang. Old school term for an engine is "hose wagon", thereby shorted to "wagon".

Not to be confused with other terminology issues that do actually have different meanings in different parts of the country. For example:

Out west, a "tanker" is a large aircraft that dumps water or retardent on wildfires. A "tender" is a big fat truck that hold a lot of water. Where out east, we don't have airplanes at all and our big fat water trucks are called tankers.

As far as anyone on the eastern seaboard knows, a tender is a piece of chicken, fried or baked, served with your choice of dipping sauces.

[slackjawedyokel]

Some of the mid Atlantic guys need to verify this, but I was alwys told it was a throw back to the days of two piece engines companies. A hose wagon used to run with the steamer. Some departments still call the 2nd out engine a wagon.

[EastKyFF]

A "tender" is a big fat truck that hold a lot of water.

I would remind you that a lot of tenders view these forums and would be offended by your use of the term "fat". Besides...

...they're just retaining water.

[voyager9]

A "tender" is a big fat truck that hold a lot of water.

A "Tender" usually contains Chicken and goes well with BBQ sauce.

[FyredUp]

Actually in the original meanings of engine and wagon they had distinctly different uses.

Originally, the wagon carried the hose and apliances and the engine had nothing but the pump and perhaps hard suction or a soft sleeve. The engine went to the water source and the wagon laid out from the fire to the engine.

More recently Washington DC used to run engines and wagons. They ran very similar to that concept with the company having 2 pieces of apparatus, usually identical engines. The wagon was staffed with a full crew and the engine most often with just a driver. The wagon did the actual firefighting and the engine supplied them.

[LaFireEducator]

Actually in the original meanings of engine and wagon they had distinctly different uses.

Originally, the wagon carried the hose and apliances and the engine had nothing but the pump and perhaps hard suction or a soft sleeve. The engine went to the water source and the wagon laid out from the fire to the engine.

More recently Washington DC used to run engines and wagons. They ran very similar to that concept with the company having 2 pieces of apparatus, usually identical engines. The wagon was staffed with a full crew and the engine most often with just a driver. The wagon did the actual firefighting and the engine supplied them.

There's a very interesting video from the 50's by the LAFD that illistrates this operation perfectly. In addition, there are probably another 10-15 videos done at the same time by The LAFD that illiostrate many other firefighting operations from that era.

I beleive it's called something like "Your Fire Department".

It's actually a pretty cool series of videos if you enjoy watching firefighting operations from the past.

[ffmedcbk1]

http://www.archive.org/details/YourFire1949

this it?

[FIREMECH1]

http://www.archive.org/details/YourFire1949

this it?

Great link. Kinda wondered how they did it in the day, minus 60 years. Very different from today, but some of it still applies today.

Thanks.

FM1

[FWDbuff]

THESE are tenders.

[Reliance]

I always thought that a wagon was small & red with little whhels that you pulled around as a kid with your new tricycle.

[Rescue101]

THESE are tenders.

Another kind of Tender. T.C.

[One13Truck]

OK now I'm super annoyed. This is officially the worst thread ever!!!! It's pouring & after reading it all I want to do is grill some of those tenders!!!! Well the rain is only coming down at a slight angle right now & not sideways so maybe I can sneak out...

I am glad that I wasn't the only one confused by this though. This part of Pa doesn't have any "Wagons" at least in an official name. Seeing them all over Md & Va I've been wondering what the difference between an "Engine" and "Wagon" to the point I've checked out the specs to see if it was certain equipment carried/not carried or if it were Wagons had had to have a certain amount of LDH or whatever & I couldn't figure it out. Don't think I'll be standing outside in 40 degree rain to grill though. LOL

[rm1524]

OK now I'm super annoyed. This is officially the worst thread ever!!!! It's pouring & after reading it all I want to do is grill some of those tenders!!!! Well the rain is only coming down at a slight angle right now & not sideways so maybe I can sneak out...

I am glad that I wasn't the only one confused by this though. This part of Pa doesn't have any "Wagons" at least in an official name. Seeing them all over Md & Va I've been wondering what the difference between an "Engine" and "Wagon" to the point I've checked out the specs to see if it was certain equipment carried/not carried or if it were Wagons had had to have a certain amount of LDH or whatever & I couldn't figure it out. Don't think I'll be standing outside in 40 degree rain to grill though. LOL

It is never to cold or wet to grill.

[FWDbuff]

It is never to cold or wet to grill.

My grill is never closed.

[rm1524]

My grill is never closed.

Had the regulator freeze up one night and I thought I was going to cry, but a few mintues with a hair dryer on the regulator and I did have a GRILLED steak for dinner.

[FWDbuff]

Had the regulator freeze up one night and I thought I was going to cry, but a few mintues with a hair dryer on the regulator and I did have a GRILLED steak for dinner.

Thats why I shut mine off at the tank before the burner and let it burn off every time. Never had a problem yet.

[Chenzo]

http://www.archive.org/details/YourFire1949

this it?

Very neat video.

[rm1524]

Thats why I shut mine off at the tank before the burner and let it burn off every time. Never had a problem yet.

It happened while I was cooking.

[LaFireEducator]

Very neat video.

Yes, that is one of them.

There are a few others which I just found.

You-tube "old lafd training videos" and you'll find stuff on pump operations, driving and tillering a tiller, company response and some other stuff from the late 40's.

Obviously it's dated but it really very interesting.